"Shrinking" enlarged pores can be an uphill battle at times. The truth is you can't really change the shape of your pores with one specific product. Your pore size is determined by a bunch of different factors such as genetics, age, sun exposure and skin type. But the good news is you can disguise or hide your pores if you use the right products.
Some ingredients to look for that are good for hiding pores are AHAs and BHAs, which can exfoliate, and retinoids, which can work to unclog the pores. Sunscreen will also protect your skin from sun damage, preventing your pores from seeming enlarged.
You also want to make sure you're in a good routine with cleaning your face and exfoliating—unclogging the gunk and oil will make your pores appear smaller. But don't forget to go gentle here—you don't want to scrub so hard or wash your face too much that you cause inflammation and redness.
But if you're looking for products that can make your pores seem smaller, we've compiled some highly rated options below. Just remember that at the end of the day, we all have pores. So don't stress too much if you think your pores look huge—having them is completely natural!
1. Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
This toner contains niacinamide to minimize the appearance of pores, hyaluronic acid and ceramides to restore the moisture barrier and chamomile and burdock root extract to soothe sensitive skin.
2. Medik8 Crystal Retinal 1 Serum
This retinal (a less irritating yet powerful form of retinol) is highly regarded amongst beauty editors to smooth skin texture and tighten pores. It also promotes cell turnover and targets fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and blemishes. And if you're normally sensitive to retinol, you'll be happy to know that this one is formulated to minimize irritation. If you're new to retinoids, start with this mild formula and then work up to the stronger versions in the range. Retinoids can be irritating when you first use them, so begin by using once a week to see how your skin tolerates it.
3. Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner Cream
This pore-refining cream is especially helpful for those with oily and combination skin. It contains salicylic acid to exfoliate and silica powder and anti-reflection particles to mattify, leaving you with a smooth canvas for makeup.
4. Estée Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refresher
Estée Lauder's product has a pore-diminishing technology that "shrinks" the look of enlarged pores and promotes smoothness and luminosity. Many reviewers comment on how quickly it improves skin texture.
5. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
This might be one of the best products of all time for acne-prone skin, and it works a treat to keep pores clear, helping them appear smaller. Use this toner once or twice a day depending on your skin's tolerance to exfoliate away dead skin cells, prevent and treat breakouts and reduce the appearance of pores.
6. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Concentrated Derma Serum
This lightweight serum quite literally gives you glass skin. Hydrating hyaluronic acid helps plump and moisturise while glycolic acid helps smooth uneven skin texture, refining the skin's smaller-looking pores.
7. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
The watermelon extract in Glow Recipe's toner hydrates and soothes the skin while hyaluronic acid and cactus water seal in moisture and PHA and BHA exfoliate and clean pores.
8. Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer
Prep your skin (and pores) before makeup with this fan-favourite primer. It blurs pores and creates a smooth, matte surface.
9. The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Exfoliating Peeling Solution
The Ordinary's liquid exfoliant is a blend of acids: glycolic and lactic to exfoliate the outer layers of the skin and salicylic to unclog the pores.
10. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel
Dr. Dennis Gross's two-step peel is so iconic. (Seriously, it's got so many fans.) It improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, pores and shine.
11. Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner
Biossance's toner is alcohol-free, so you know it will be gentle on the skin. It's formulated with white willow bark extract, which is similar to salicylic acid, unclogs pores, minimises excess oil and exfoliates. Plus, it has caviar lime extract to clear away dead skin cells and sugarcane-derived squalane to moisturise and soothe.
12. Perricone MD No Rinse Intensive Pore Minimizing Toner
Perricone MD's toner has so many benefits. Not only is it a pore minimiser, but it also lifts the skin and improves firmness and elasticity.
13. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum
This serum mildly exfoliates to clear and smoothe the skin. It contains LHA and AHA glycolic acids to tighten enlarged pores, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, clear blemishes and promote glowy skin.
14. Lisa Franklin 7-Acid Complex Resurfacing Solution
Trust us—this exfoliating treatment will transform your skin. This pore-refining treatment is formulated with seven exfoliating and re-texturising ingredients including mandelic acid, salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which help reveal an almost poreless complexion. This is a potent formula, so you only need to use it once a week to see really impressive results.
15. Benefit The Porefessional Face Primer
Here's another popular makeup primer designed to smooth over pores before makeup. It's silky, lightweight and mattifying, leaving you with a poreless canvas before makeup, but it also looks great worn alone.
16. Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
This went viral on TikTok for a reason. Leave this mask on for 10 minutes, and you'll get tighter pores and clearer skin. It's infused with grape-seed polyphenols (for antioxidant benefits), sustainably sourced clay (to clear impurities and excess sebum) and natural caffeine (to illuminate the skin).
17. Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Minimizing Cleansing Clay Mask
The Amazonian white clay in this mask absorbs excess oil and detoxifies. It also won't leave your skin dry or irritated since the formula contains aloe to soothe.
18. Dermaflash Dermapore Device
If you're prone to blackheads or congestion, this device is a must-have. It uses ultrasonic vibrations to coax blackheads and whiteheads out of pores as you pass it over the skin. If you can't get in to see you facialist for an extraction facial, this is the next best thing.
19. Clinique Blackhead Solutions 7 Day Deep Pore Cleanser Face Scrub
Clinique's product is a three-in-one: it can act as a daily cleanser, scrub and deep-cleansing mask. No matter which way you use it, though, you'll be able to reap benefits like smaller-looking pores and oil control.
20. Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Pore Exfoliating Treatment
This scrub has both chemical and mechanical exfoliants: lactic acid, salicylic acid and silica. Other ingredients include papaya, pineapple and pumpkin enzymes to enhance skin exfoliation, plus aloe vera, honey, and vitamin E to smoothe and soften.
Next: This Is How to Get Your Pores Under Control in the Summer, According to Experts
